Transport container unit



Nov. 8, 1960' s. J. BELL 2,959,316

TRANSPORT CONTAINER UNIT Filed Feb. 24, 1959 FIG. 2

United States Patent i TRANSPORT CONTAINER UNIT Seaton J. Bell, Houston, Tex., assignor to Ethyl Corporation, New York, N .Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 795,180

3 Claims. (Cl. 220-1) This invention relates to apparatus and a method for the transport of liquid products. More particularly, the invention relates to new and improved procedures and apparatus for the storage and transport of quantities of chemical and petroleum liquid products.

The transport and the storage of liquid chemical and petroleum products is a highly important branch of the process industries, and large investments in equipment are required for such service. In many instances, the most effective mode of transport involves the use of railroad tank cars, but, also, in numerous cases smaller quantities of liquids require movement and in some cases this has been accomplished by using returnable or disposable steel drums. A great need, however, has existed for efiective means to transport intermediate or truck trailer quantities of liquid products. This would avoid the handling of drums in areas not served by rail. In addition, a significant need has existed for the transport of liquid commodities by ocean-going vessels. In the case of transport and storage in drums, water transport is relatively simple in that the drums can be trucked to the wharf and loaded on a vessel as deck cargo, but of course the cost of handling individual relatively small packages of this nature is out of proportion. This d'sadvantage also applies to smaller orders requiring only land movement.

In recent times, a new variety of sea transport has developed employing a highway container unit, having maximum dimensions corresponding to a trailer body, and useable as such. Such containers are loaded in vessels having corresponding sized spaces or receptacles, these being fitted with means for registration and fastening down of the containers. It has been proposed to utilize, for liquids, a tank occupying such a modular size, a typical modulator size being eight feet wide, about 35 feetv long, and about 8 /2 feet high. If a cylindrical tank were provided to occupy most efiiciently such a modular space, however (for example, about 7 /2 feet in diameter), the resultant weight would be excess for highway use. There has been, heretofore, no etficient procedure or equipment, for land-sea transport of reasonable quantities of liquid products, which would use the above-mentioned modular space technique.

The trailer tank technique has been most highly developed for petroleum products, and especially for gasoline. For gasoline or other petroleum products, the design of tanks is relatively simple, and tanks of oval cross section are frequently used. In the case of many other commodities, however, such freedom in design is not available. When a liquid commodity has high vapor pressures, or is particularly flammable, the transport tanks are essentially unfired pressure vessels. When liquid products have the foregoing attributes, plus a high degree of toxicity, the requirements on pressure resistance are specific and rigorous. Thus, containers of circular cross section are virtually mandatory. The problem is further aggravated. in cases wherein .the liquid ,hasta high density. As already explained, tanks of large cross section (occupying a full modulus) would not be transportable in highway service. Tanks occupying only onehalf the height of a modulus, but of oval or rectangular shape, are unworkable because of the pressure resistance requirement. Several individual, small cylindrical tanks, associated to provide a unit occupying half a modulus height, are acceptable but have the disadvantage of requiring dual hook-up at the charging and delivery locations.

Accordingly, a severe need has existed for a method and apparatus to provide transport of liquid chemical products sequentially by highway transport and then by water transport or vice versa. A need as outlined, wherein the apparatus includes a unitary container, has been particularly evident. By unitary is meant that a single volume container is provided or can be provided for the desired service. More particularly, a method and apparatus has been needed to permit such unitary container movement wherein cargo space on a vessel is in the form of rectangular compartments or stations having modular dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of a highway trailer body. Further, the method and apparatus required must conform to adequate safety requirements, such as the regulations of the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Coast Guard.

It is, accordingly an object of the present invention, to provide a new and significantly improved transport unit for the movement of intermediate quantities of liquid chemical products in a safe and expeditious manner. A more particular object is to provide a transport and storage unit, including a container and appropriate ancillary structure as hereafter defined, which is particularly suitable for movement by highway trailer unit to ship-side, and loading on vessels provided with modular spaces, and securing in said modular spaces. A more specific object is to provide a liquid transport unit of the foregoing character wherein readily available materials and shapes can be employed, and further a unitary container is provided, that is a container having a single communicating space including several segments as hereafter described. An even more particular object is to provide a transport unit including a container of the type mentioned wherein it is eminently feasible to load and discharge from said container with only one hook-up at a delivery or receiving installation. An additional object is top-rovide a transport unit and container. highly suited for the transport by both highway and sea-borne means wherein a highly economical use of a one-halfmodular space is achieved and yet a unitary container vessel is feasible. By this is meant that in a modular space of generally a square cross sectional configuration, the present container is adapted to occupy only /2 of said space and further to allow stacking of two said units within said modular space. Other 1 more particular objects will appear hereinafter.

The general design of the apparatus of the presentinvention, and the details of the preferred embodiments, will be clearly apparent from the detailed description hereinafter and the accompanying figures wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of one particular effective embodiment,

Fig. 2 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. l in position on a highway truck-trailer unit as a typical utilization thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view 3-3 of the container unit at a particular point of construction, viz., at a point at which the several segments are all joined in a com- Patented Nov. 8, 196(1 for. The container of the apparatus comprises two elongated, generally cylindrical segments of tubes positioned in parallel alignment and fairly close together. An additional segment is provided, this segment having generally a cylindrical cross-sectional configuration, but being positioned between and intersecting both the above mentioned elongated cylindrical segments. Generally, the diameter of the last mentioned, short segment is at least about equivalent to the diameter of the elongated segment, and in preferred embodiments, the diameter of this segment is sufficient to provide an intersection of this segment with the elongated segment bottom walls at the center thereof. As will be apparent hereinafter, this configuration provides unique advantages. In the preferred and most effective embodiments of the invention, the short segment cited above is positioned adjacent an end of the pair of long segments.

As mentioned, the various embodiments of the invention include end support structures, one structure being at each end of the unitary container formed by the above defined three segments. The end support structure generally includes a lateral frame or plate device attached securely to the ends of the elongated cylindrical segments. Further, the end support structures normally include portions which provide standing surfaces and, support surfaces, and means for lifting the unit. By standing surfaces is meant that the end support structures provide support points whereby the entire unit can be placed on a normally flat plane or, alternatively on four points accommodating these bearing surfaces for support, registration, and alignment on a highway trailer, or within a modular space on a ship or vessel. By lifting means is meant that the end support structure is adapted to be engaged by lifting devices of one sort or another, whereby a crane can readily lift the entire unit from a position on a trailer bed to a ship deck, or vice versa. By supporting surfaces is meant that the end support structures include top elements whereby an equivalent unit can be engaged and supported thereon. By this structure, the units can be readily stacked in pairs and as will be clear hereinafter, modular spaces on ship board will be most efficiently used.

Referring to Fig. l, a typical and preferred embodiment is shown in plan. The container of the units includes a pair of elongated, generally cylindrical segments 12 12 These segments are closed at their ends by conventional ellipsoid heads 14 14 14 14 Adjacent the end of this pair of elongated segments is a short, generally cylindrical segment 13. The diameter of this segment is, preferably, and as shown in this view, equivalent to something above the diameter of the elongated segments 12,, 12 and the most effective embodiment is that wherein the diameter of the short segment 13 is equal to the diameter of the elongated segments 12,, 12 plus the distance i between the said elongated segments when in position in the container and unit. The length of the short segment 13 is something longer than the height (diameter) of the elongated segments, 12,, 12 but not so long as to project above or below top and bottom planes correspond- .ing to and determined by the aforementioned supporting surfaces or elements and standing surfaces, respectively.

Engaging the ends of each of the elongated, cylindrical Segments are sleeve type attaching members 15 15 15 15 These are generally very short cylindrical segments adapted to slip on and be welded to the ends of the elongated segments 12 12 The said sleeve members form a portion of the support structure, and are attached to end plate members 16,, 16 The end plate members are generally rectangular plates, having a border including reinforcing standard shapes such as channels or angles 17,, 17 In most forms of the invention, the vertical margins of the end support plates 16,, 16 are further attached to what are referred to as corner posts 1.8 13 18 18 It is seen that, in plan position, the corner posts provide the corners of a generally rectangular shape. The corner posts include, at their top extremities, recesses or sockets 19 19 19 19 these providing means for engaging hooks or other appropriate lifting attachment means whereby the entire unit can be lifted. In addition, as previously indicated, the sockets provide means whereby an equivalent and similarly dimensioned unit, corresponding to that being described, can be placed to provide a stacked or tiered arrangement. In addition to the above mentioned sockets, 19 19 19 19 at the upper extremity of the corner posts, similar receptacles or sockets at the bottom extremity are provided. Cross beam or collar support members 29 20 are frequently and desirably provided to clasp and support together the elongated segmental members. Frequently, in addition, the cross support members 20 2.0 are provided with recesses or projections on the bottom surface thereof, these being adapted to engage with similar configurations on highway trailer frames or beds, whereby secure registered positioning is readily achieved. Frequently, in addition to the support structure already described, tie rods 21 21 21 21 are provided to further reinforce the end support structure with the elongated cylindrical segments proper. Generally, valve means covered by a dome 22 are associated with the short segment 13.

The configuration and structure of the embodiment of Fig. 1 is further more clearly illustrated by Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Referring to Fig. 2, this is a rear view of the unit shown in plan by Fig. 1, mounted upon a highway trailer or similar vehicle. It is seen that, in cross sectional appearance, the unit outlines a rectangular space and, further, no portion of the container is projecting above the upper plane defined by the angle iron 17 which borders and reinforces the end plate 16 The short vertical segment 13 is capped by the dome 22 which encloses and covers the valve means ont shown. By valve means is meant a plurality of valve elements, since it is ordinarily necessary that several lines be attached to a containerfor introducing liquid and at the same time permitting outage of entrapped air, or when discharging for allowing re-entry of atmospheric air or inert gas to the container. In addition, in containers for liquid movement the valve means are considered to include a dip leg or similar interior conduit which goes to the lower-most point of the immediately accessible area, whereby the liquid contents can be virtually entirely discharged from the container.

The relative position of the end or corner posts 18 18 is also shown. In typical structure, the corner posts are segments of standard or extra heavy steel pipe, plus special expanded sections 23 23 23 23 at the tops and bottoms of the posts 18 18 These expanded sec,- tions can be special forgings containing sockets for the purpose hereinbefore mentioned. The container unit is mounted on the vehicle chassis, which includes longitudinal beams or stringers 31 32 and a plurality of cross members such as the end cross beam 32 In trailers for relatively high capacity, the weight of the vehicle and contents is frequently supported on dual axle or tandem axle arrangement, the rearward axle and the rear set of dual wheels and tires 34,, 34 being shown.

The details of the construction of the container 11, particularly with respect to joinder of the elongated segments 12 12 and the short segment 13 is shown by Fig. 3, this being the sectional view 3--3 of the container 11. Referring to Fig. 3, it is seen that the short segmental container 13 joins, as a connecting section, both the elongated segments 12,, 12 Further, in this embodiment the diameter of the short segment 13 is equal to the diameter of the elongated segments 12 or 12 plus the distance it between the two elongated segments in position. Accordingly, the side walls of the short segment intersect the top and bottom walls of the elongated containers 12 12 at a diameter thereof. Accordingly, the space defined at this intersection provides for a sump portion 36 between the elongated segment 12,, 12 this sump portion being readily communicable with the in teriors of the long segments 12 12 Because of the positioning of the intersection of the three segments, the long segments drain into said sump when the container is being discharged, and hence virtually complete discharge is facilitated without any pockets of liquid being established within the long container. The short segment -13 is formed as previously indicated from a generally cylindrical portion, which is cut out as required to provide the joinder with the elongated segments and carefully welded thereto. The top and bottom of the elongated segment is provided by conventional ellipsoidal or dished heads 37 37 As previously mentioned, valve means are associated with the short segment. In virtually all instances, the valve means include at leasttwo valves 38, 39. One of these valves 38 is provided solely for entry or discharge of the gas phase, and another 39 is provided for entry and discharge of the liquid to be conveyed in the container. The liquid feed or discharge valve 39 is coupled to a dip leg 40 which projects through the ellipsoidal head 37 and terminates near the bottom and in the sump base 36. The valves are covered and protected from the atmosphere and accidental damage by a hinged dome member 22.

It will be seen, that not only does the configuration of the preferred embodiment of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 Provide the opportunity of virtually complete emptying of the container unit, despite the existence of two parallel elongated cylindrical segments, but in addition the segments themselves are fabricated or formed of readily available and conventional shapes. These shapes may either be stock pipe of the lap welded or electrical welded variety, or may be shop manufactured by rolling a steel plate and adding thereto standard ellipsoidal heads as desired. Further, since essentially cylindrical cross sections of the container units or segments proper are supplied, the container of this embodiment is most highly effective since the cylindrical cross section provides the maximum resistance for pressure purposes of any available shape. Despite the rather complicated intersection of the two cylindrical elongated segments with the short segment 13, the entire unit retains the character of a cylindrical section insofar as pressure resistance goes.

As already explained in the most highly preferred embodiment illustrated herein, the elongated segments are slightly smaller in diameter than the short segment 13. This is not absolutely essential, and in fact some case the short segment 13 may be of exactly the same or even smaller diameter than the elongated segments 12 12 In such instances, however, there is no opportunity for sidewall intersection of the short segment 13 with the walls of the elongated segments at a diameter thereof. Rather, the intersection occurs at a chord of the cross sectional circular configuration. In this case, a small pocket would be established within the elongated segments, and hence means must be then provided to provide for draining of the elongated segments to the sub-portion 36 of the short segment 13. Such means can be drain lines connecting transversely the bottom of the short segment with the lower-most levels of elongated segments. In all cases, of course, the diameter of the short segment must be greater than the distance it between the elongated segments when in position in the unit.

The container 11 described above in conjunction with the end structures also described, provide an extremely rigid and highly adaptable overall unit for the transport of liquid. The unit is most eifective and valuable when employed and designed for relatively dense liquids and particularly liquids of a somewhat toxic character. In these cases, the container, as previously mentioned, must satisfy the regulatory requirements for unfired pressure vessels and provide a high degree of safety. For such circumstances, a high degree of rigidity and internal strength is necessary. The combination of the end structures securely attached to the ends of the pair of elon- 6 gated segments 12 12 and incorporating a rectangular plate, such as 16 16 achieves the desired rigidity. Insofar as rigidity with respect to stresses applied to the unit considered as a beam member (that is stresses involved by forces applied at the center contra to the weight or forces applied at the end, or vice versa), this attribute is achieved by the fact that the elongated cylindrical containers themselves possess'an extremely high degree of lateral rigidity. The end structures in conjunction with the short segment which forms an in-' tegral part of the container proper 11 provide an overall high degree of rigidity.

The precise configuration of the end support struc-' tures is not extremely important, providing that the ob jective of extremely secure attachment of the elongated segments to the end support structure, which includes support members, is achieved. Thus, the ring type segment 15 15 15 15 are not the only type of attaching means between the elongated segments and the end support structure. Similarly, if a plate configuration as described above with respect to 16 16 is not desired, triangular bracing, achieving the rectangular external dimensions of the end portions, can be readily achieved. Similarly, the employment of pipe sections for corner posts is not essential, and rolled shapes can be employed. Similiarly, the socket means incorporated in the corner posts, which form a portion of the end support structure, need not be considered a critical phase of the design of the unit. Various configurations of the sockets can be provided. In all instances, the support structures at the ends of the unit should include two bearing supports. Equivalent to two discrete standing surfaces is a standing surface providing one continuous line or plane bearing support at the bottom and top, at the bottom and at the top of each end support. The standing surfaces fulfill the need for support of the unit when it is positioned on a flat floor type surface, and also can be adapted to engage mounting devices on a flat bed railway car, or on a modular space on ship board. The top or supporting surfaces, which, preferably, include socket means 19 19 19 19 are generally formed by enlarged portions of corner posts 18 18 18 18 as described. These elements are adapted to engage the bottom surfaces of an equivalent or identical unit. In such cases, frequently temporary male members are inserted in the sockets for engaging the bottom sockets of the unit stacked on top of a first unit.

The relative dimensions of the unit and the container incorporated therein are again of not highly critical significance. In substantially all cases, however, the dimensions of the unit in plan, correspond generally to the external dimensions of a standard highway vehicle body. Thus, the length is customarily about thirty feet, and the width about eight feet. The height of a complete unit (see Fig. 2) should be substantially /2 or less of the height of a standard highway vehicle unit body, and in most instances about four feet. In a suitable configuration or embodiment, the diameter of the elongated segments 12 12 is about 24 inches, and the units are spaced apart about 9-18 inches in the design. The elongated segment 13 is, in such an embodiment, formed by rolling a plate to a diameter of about 33-42 inches. The thickness of the plate or metal employed in fabrication depends upon the service employed and the degree of corrosion allowance and any pressure and safety requirement. Generally, plate thicknesses varying from $4 to about /2 inch are highly suitable.

Having described the several embodiments of the present invention and the manner of making and using the same, what is desired to be claimed is:

1. A container for storage or transport of liquids including two elongated cylindrical segments having normally horizontal axes and being positioned in parallel and in relatively close proximity, and a connecting segment, said connecting segment being cylindrical in cross section and having a normally vertical axis, and being positioned between said segments and intersecting both ofsaid segments, forming thereby a continuous communicating space formed by the said three segments and valve means associated with said connecting segments.

2. A transport unit for liquids including a container and support structure therefor, said container including two elongated cylindrical segments having normally horizontal axes and being positioned in parallel and in relatively close proximity, and a connecting segment, said connecting segment being cylindrical in cross section and having a normally vertical axis, and being positioned between said segments and intersecting both of said segments, forming thereby a continuous communicating 15 space formed by the said three segments and valve means associated with said connecting segments, the support structure including an end support'at and attached to each end of the container, and having bottom standing surfaces for supporting the unit and top surfaces for supporting a similar units thereon.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further defined in that the intersection of the connecting segment with each elongated segment includes a diameter of the elongated seg- 10 ment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 927,094 Beaupain July 6, 1909 

